Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service)- Torrential rains continue to lash Southern Africa. Besides Angola (see Fides 8 February 2007) serious floods are reported in Mozambique and Madagascar.
In Mozambique at least thirty people are said to have died because of heavy rains and the government has asked the international community to help provide assistance for over 500,000 people left destitute after floods destroyed 4,677 homes and 4 medical centres which served 46,000 people. The most affected provinces are Zambezia and Sofala. There is also concern for the situation at Cahora Bassa dam where the water has risen above the security level. Serious damage to crops threatens to cause an economic and food crisis.
A government representative said these floods are even worse than those in 2000 and 2001 which left over 700 dead and 500,000 homeless.
Madagascar is also facing an emergency due to bad weather. “After the passage of two cyclones which devastated the north and south east of Madagascar, now the capital Antananarivo is under water. Heavy rain over the past few days has caused floods in the plain of Antananarivo. Thousands are homeless. Homes have been seen to collapse and some casualties are reported” local Church sources told Fides. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 9/2/2007 righe 23 parole 252)
